The Sprout
At last! The bus stop is back!
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 164 February 2022
The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements,
Michael Cockman, Ag MacKeith, Robin Palmer
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Te l: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
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delivered to your door. Contact: Carol Kramer 01865 243002.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for
any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not
a vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in
a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual
contributors.
All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.
The Sprout is printed by Dataprint Ltd, and published by North
Hinksey Parish Publications Ltd, (a company limited by
guarantee) Registration No. 05609535.
It can also be found online at BotleyHinksey.org.uk
The Sprout
Issue 164, February 2022
Contents
3 Talking about Energy
7 Cumnor Choral
9 Botley Patients Group
11 Hill End
14 Voi-age of Discovery
17 Seasonal Treats
19 Oxclean
21 Seacourt Hall
23 Planning Applications
25 Missing Streams
29 Flood Scheme Update
31 Kennington Memory Club
33 Wise Students exhibition
35 Community Land Trust
37 Randoms
38 Local Organizations
From the Editor
Welcome to the first issue of 2022. There’s lots happening in Botley as
per usual. Cumnor Choral is planning a Spring concert (p7), the parish
hub, aka Seacourt Hall, is back in business (p21), the Community Land
Trust is on the point of building the nine affordable flats it has long
been planning, at the back of Pinnocks Way (p35). We have a new food
column (p17) – thank you, Emma Burnett, for taking this on. Looking
backwards, there’s a story on a newspaper cutting about Botley from
1955 (p25), and, in the here and now, we have an account of the thrills
and near misses of riding the new Voi scooters (p14). Looking
forwards, there will be an Energy Day in Seacourt Hall on 12th March
for people worried about climate change and energy bills (p3). And
later in the year, we’ll be celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by
lighting the beacon at the top of the hill (p37). Sincere thanks to Bhee
and Robin who, having run the Sprout deliveries for the last ten years,
have decided to call it a day, and also to Jan and Isabelle, who have
taken over the job. We could do with a few more people to do the
actual deliveries – only about half an hour once a month. Please get in
touch with Isabelle (number on inside front cover) if you can help. If
you wondered why we’d gone for such a dull photo on the front, you
have never waited in the rain for the bus opposite the Co-op. We were
beginning to think it would never happen – but the new bus stop is in
place at last!
Ag MacKeith
Time to talk about energy….
And in Botley we are planning to do just that. Our
new Sustainable Botley group is planning a
special event on energy in our homes at Seacourt
Hall, on Saturday 12th March from 2-5pm. All
are welcome.
The event will be an opportunity to:
• talk to Botley residents who have made home
energy improvements, small or large
• learn what support is available in the form of
advice, grants and loans
• make connections in our local community so
we can find ways of taking action together. There will also be tea
and cakes.
The background to this event is a global supply crunch in natural gas,
which has boosted prices. A 50% jump in household gas and electricity
costs is being predicted for April 2022. The crisis may have taken some
electricity suppliers by surprise, but it should not be news to anyone that
fossil fuels are finite. We would have
to stop burning them, even if we
weren’t also facing a climate crunch.
Politicians are talking about
measures to protect households
from the price hike, like cutting the
VAT on fuel or levying a windfall tax
on producers. Meanwhile headline
messages from the Government’s
Net Zero Strategy published last
year include a 100% green electricity
supply by 2035 and an “ambition”
that no new gas boilers will be sold
from that year. Hydrogen-fired
boilers are being held out as a
possibility, but the expectation is that
most homes should eventually use
heat pumps. While green energy
supplies are part of the way forward,
the most important thing we can do
is to insulate our homes so that we stay warm with less energy. Heat
pumps are very efficient but they are best for providing continual warmth
in a well-insulated house with an EPC* rating of C or above. Most of our
homes in Botley were built with little attention to energy efficiency.
*An EPC or Energy Performance Certificate is required when you sell or let a
home. There’s lots of information about them on the Internet, for instance at
energysavingtrust.org.uk
At our energy event, we’ll showcase measures we can take from
draught-proofing and getting a smart meter, to topping up loft insulation,
getting wall cavities filled, installing high efficiency double or triple
glazing, floor insulation and more. We’ll talk about how we can prioritise
different measures, how to steer clear of pitfalls, and where to get
advice and support including finding good installers.
Please do get in touch if you’d like to help in some way, and especially if
you have a home energy improvement story that you’re willing to share.
Yo u ca n c on ta c t m e at laurie@ liv in g witness .o r g .u k.
And do come along on 12th March.
Laurie Michaelis
Cumnor Choral Society
Our pre-Christmas concert, the first for two years, was a performance of
Handel’s Messiah, at the church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the
27th November 2021.
More than 40 of us sang, supported by four excellent professional
soloists and the Hurst Symphonia orchestra, all led by our musical
director, Peter Foster. The concert was well attended, and enjoyed by
all, despite the rather Spartan conditions resulting from COVID
precautions. It was great fun, particularly “All we like sheep”, and of
course “Hallelujah”.
The choir will start rehearsing for the new term at Cumnor Old School
on Friday 14th of January at 7:45pm till 9pm. The hall will be open from
7pm so that we can socialise, in masks, before the rehearsal.
For our spring concert, we shall be singing Mendelssohn's Hear my
Prayer (Novello Edition) and Fauré's Requiem (OUP edition). The
performance will take place on Saturday 26th March
New singers are very welcome. We do not ask you to take a singing
test, merely that you enjoy singing with a sociable group of people. For
more info contact me on johnmay@ b t in te rn e t.c om
John May
PATI ENT PA RTICIPATION GROUP for Botley Medical
Centre and Kennington Surgery
What a pharmacy offers
The December PPG meeting was addressed by Dan Towler, the
manager of Woodlands Pharmacy, Botley Road, who told us what help
we can expect from a pharmacy.
Minor ailments, colds, flu, minor injuries, cuts and bruises which do not
need a doctor’s attention or prescription. In the next two years more
pharmacies will become independent prescribers.
Flu vaccinations are available at pharmacies – this takes pressure off
surgeries and can be accessed quickly. Covid boosters are available at
some pharmacies but not at Woodlands for reasons of space.
Medication Use Review. A pharmacist has more training on the action
and effect of medications than a doctor. If you have questions about
your medication or want a consultation/review please go to your
pharmacist first.
New Medication Service. Doctors will ask people to report back on
how the medication is going. The first follow up is after seven days, the
second after fourteen. This discussion can be held with a pharmacist as
an alternative.
Some services at pharmacies have been curtailed due to Covid. At
Woodlands Pharmacy this has affected Diabetes and Blood Pressure
Te s t s , a n d v a c c i n a t i o n s f o r t r a v e l .
Woodlands Pharmacy, along with other pharmacists, offers a free
delivery service for prescriptions. They will deliver up as far as
Cumnor, and out to Wolvercote, Headington, Cowley and Kennington.
They make between 100 and 200 deliveries a day, often well into the
evening. A £1 delivery charge is made to cover purchased items, but
this does not apply if purchases
are delivered with a prescription.
To fin d o u t t h e de l ive r y po l icy a nd
range of other pharmacies, contact
them directly.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday
February 8th at 6pm by Zoom.
Co ntact me at csugden@ ocrpl.org
if you would like to take part.
Chris Sugden, Secretary
News from Hill End
We write with our latest news on a stunningly, crisp and sunny winter
day. The young people visiting Hill End today have been warming up
with plenty of running around, campfires and hot chocolate – energetic
proof that outdoor learning happens in every season!
We are looking forward hopefully to a more ‘normal’ 2022, after the
huge challenges that the last two years have brought to our small
charity. If schools close, or are short-staffed, this hugely impacts not just
the children’s education, but also their opportunity to take part in the
outdoor activities that are so very important for learning, social skills,
health and wellbeing.
In the winter season we use quieter days to tidy and maintain the site,
and get ready for the busier times ahead. Our wonderful ‘Friends of Hill
End’ volunteer group have been invaluable in helping to manage our 67-
acres of woods and grasslands, with all the constant cutting back,
coppicing and repair work that is needed to keep everything up to
scratch. Our Green Flag award this year was a fantastic recognition of
all their hard work! If you are available on Wednesdays and are
interested in volunteering, meeting new people, learning new skills and
getting outdoors, please do get in touch.
We’re also very much looking forward to hosting more family days over
the next half term school holiday – on Wednesday 23 and Thursday
24 February. Booking is essential (see the news and events page of
our website for details). Our October and Christmas family days were a
great success and booked up very quickly, so don’t miss out!
As well as events for
schools and colleges,
we try and run as
many other events
open to the public as
we can. We’ve
already welcomed
back our Forest Tots
for pre-schoolers, and
our afterschool
sessions restart in
March. Our new adult
bush craft courses on
Saturdays are a great
way to meet like-minded people and learn outdoor skills in nature. For
more on all our activities and events and please visit our website.
Did you visit us last summer for our ffennell festival? The Friends of Hill
End will be hosting this event again on Sat 11 June (event restrictions
allowing). This hugely
popular fun day is named
after the ffennell family who
gifted Hill End to the local
children of Oxfordshire. It’s
a fantastic opportunity for
us to open up to our local
community, and also to give
those who visited as a child
a chance to come back and
take a trip down memory
lane (or hill?).
We’re also looking for new
people to help out this year – so if you are able to volunteer any of your
time in any capacity, or offer an activity for adults and children, the
Friends would love to hear from you. Please do just get in touch – thank
you!
Can you help Hill End?
The Hill End Charitable Trust is asking for support from funders and
individuals who value what we do. If you are able to help, volunteer or
donate we would love to hear from you. Please visit our website at:
www.hill-end.org/help-us/. You can now also support the Friends of Hill
End and many other deserving causes when you play the brand new
White Horse Community Lottery, supporting local charities and with the
chance to win a top prize of £25,000.
Lucy Crittenden
Voi-age of discovery
I’ve been wondering about the new Voi scooters that have arrived next
to Macdonalds, and recently decided to give them a go. So, having
downloaded the app and supplied the required selfie and the photo of
my driving licence, I was reg-
istered and approved on the
system and ready for my first
Voi-age.
The scooter park by Mackie-
Dee is on the outer limits of
the range for the scheme, but I
had assumed that so long as
the scooter was returned to
the zone by the end of the
ride, I could make an explora-
tory trip to Botley library and
back again. After a few false
starts I worked out that the
scooter needed a little push to
make it go, and the electric
assist exhilaratingly zoomed
me onto the street. Sadly, I’d
scarcely reached the Seacourt
Tower, when it mysteriously
powered down again. It turns
out that one cannot leave the approved zone, and so my first foray had
to be abandoned, in favour of good, old-fashioned, reliable feet.
A number of weeks passed, before I found an excuse to try again. My
destination – the new Ethiopian Restaurant called Lula’s on Frideswide
Square – has a Voi dock right outside. App in place, I casually strolled
up to the dock, released the scooter by scanning the QR code, and
whooshed down the Botley Road.
My usual mode of transport is by bike, and as I effortlessly zipped
along, I couldn’t help but compare the experience. It felt right that one
should be using the bicycle lane, but although I’ve never noticed this on
the bike, on the scooter the brand new cycle lane is a bit of a bumpy
affair. It was much smoother to stick to the bus lane. Once comfortably
cruising in the bus lane, I felt relatively safe and stable, and found that,
just like a bike, one actually steers it mostly by leaning one’s weight this
way or that. At the train station roundabout I needed to turn right, which
is when I found a bit of a design flaw: THERE ARE NO INDICATORS.
When you turn right on a bike, you position yourself towards the middle
of the road and indicate with your right arm before turning. But on the
scooter this meant taking my right hand off the thumb throttle, suddenly
slowing me right down in front of a line of cars all moving forwards. I
snatched back my hand and made the turn, risking being mown down
from behind and worried that no one had noticed the brief signal.
I arrived unscathed 6½ minutes after I started. It cost me £2.20, £1 to
unlock the scooter and 20p per minute thereafter. £4.40 for the round
trip. So the bus is cheaper, and my usual mode would have been com-
pletely free. There is a day pass for £10, or £7 if there is a promotion
on, or you can subscribe for £35 a month, and get 300 minutes of scoot-
ing.
The following day I decided to try a slightly longer journey: Botley to Jer-
icho, potentially a two-bus trip, or one bus and a walk. Perhaps this is
the type of Voi journey that makes it a fast and cost-effective option. By
now I was feeling pretty blasé and had not left myself very much time to
get out of the house and to my appointment. That’s pretty standard on a
bike, as you know can make up for it by cycling a little bit faster. But the
scooter only goes so fast, and no faster, and in fact slows down in des-
ignated go-slow zones. There was no way I could make up the time and
my competitive spirit was somewhat irked when a cyclist overtook me
and there was nothing I could do about it. Not only that, but by the time I
arrived I was absolutely freezing. On a bike you start off chilly but arrive
invigorated and warm, albeit perhaps a bit sweaty, but on the Voi I
started off chilly and arrived numb.
That said, it was still so easy! And I did genuinely enjoy scooting about
the place. All the same, I could not help feeling guilty about consuming
electricity, when if I had gone by bike I would not have been. On the Voi
website they claim that their service has been climate-neutral since
January 2020 and that they “champion a transition away from car cen-
tric mobility”. This suggests that I’m not the target audience: they’re
looking at people who drive into town. So if you are thinking of taking
the car into town on a solo trip, then I would certainly recommend this
as an efficient, easy and fun way to do it, that is both climate neutral
and also skips the traffic even more effectively than if you went by bus.
Personally, now that I have the app installed, I can see that the next
time I’m about to jump on my bike only to find that the tyre is flat, in-
stead of madly trying to do a puncture repair job in my nice clean work
clothes, I’ll probably just opt for the Voi.
Emma Gordon
Seasonal Treats
This is a great time of year to start talking about food and seasonality.
We’re past the best of the fruit, but solidly into winter comfort foods, all
the roastables, soupables, and mashables.
I have a particular interest in locality and seasonality. I previously
worked on a farm, am currently a food systems researcher, and am a
keen local food eater! There’s a lot that goes on around food in
Oxford(shire), including primary and secondary production, farmers and
community markets, cooperatives, and food aid. Plus, some truly
fabulous cafes and restaurants. If you’re not
already embedded in the food scene, I
thought maybe you might like to know
more! And I’ll include a seasonal recipe in
these columns.
Let’s start by talking leeks. It’s one of the
winter staples, along with potatoes and
cabbage, and one of my all-time faves.
Leek seeds are planted in early spring. If
they’re not where you want them to be, you
can transplant them pretty easily to a new
location in late spring or early summer
where they’ll have enough space to do leeky things (so, for instance,
you can start them off in modules or in a greenhouse or polytunnel
where it’s a bit warmer). If you ridge up the soil around the base, they’ll
end up with a longer white bulb.
Leeks are in the allium family, related to onions, shallots, and garlic, but
have a milder flavour than the others. They originated in Central Asia:
texts show that leeks were consumed in ancient Egypt and Rome, and
were a favourite of Emperor Nero. They were brought to Europe in the
Middle Ages, and are actually a national emblem in Wales, a battlefield
symbol worn in combat to identify allies.
You may not think that local leeks are something you need to chase
down – a leek is a leek, right? But fresh winter leeks are incredible!
They are crisp, flavourful, and a real treat in the depths of the dark days.
Plus, the soil on the top leaves gives you a bit of insight into what the
soil on the farm is like. You can pick up great, locally-grown leeks at
Sandy Lane Farm, Blacklands Organics, or at one of the many farmers’
and community markets, like the one here in Botley on a Saturday
morning.
Buttery leeks
These are great as a side dish alongside potatoes, on top of a slice of
bread, or just on a fork by themselves!
What you need
• 1kg leeks, trimmed
• 50g butter, plus extra for serving
• Pinch of salt
• Thyme leaves for garnish
What to do
Day before (if you can): rinse your leeks and cut off the roots and the
very tops. Then slice them thinly on a diagonal and pop them into a
plastic bag or covered bowl and leave them in the fridge overnight to
crisp them up.
To c o o k: melt the butte r i n a l a rg e p an on a m e d i um h ea t . T h e n ad d t h e
leeks, salt, and a bit of thyme. Stir to coat in butter.
Turn the heat down to low, cover the pan, and cook the leeks gently for
15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. They’re ready when they’re tender
to the bite. Serve with extra butter and the rest of your thyme leaves.
Emma Burnett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time to Clean Up
The big Oxford Clean-up will take place over two weekends in March:
Friday 18th – Sunday 20th and Friday 25th – Sunday 27th. OxClean
grows year on year and in 2021 despite COVID, there were 100 groups
and 60 independent individuals litter-picking across the City. The City
and its beautiful environs always look splendid afterwards and that is a
tribute to you all.
This year, we are asking groups if they can accommodate extra volun-
teers. There are always many individuals litter-picking on their own who
might welcome company and support, and it would be greatly appreci-
ated if your group could indicate on the registration form if you are
willing to accept additional volunteers.
Please go to our website and register your group, or yourself as an
individual seeking to establish a new group, or wishing to join an estab-
lished group: https://www.oxclean.org.uk/ Gillian Coates
A Commendation for our Community Hub
Back in May last year I received an invitation
to submit Seacourt Hall for the 2021 Oxford
Preservation Trust awards. The OPT’s work
in Oxford stretches far beyond the
preservation of older buildings and we were
invited to submit to the new buildings
category. While the building may not be a
stand-out piece of design, I discovered the award is not just about the
architecture, it’s about how a building serves and adds to the
community. Of course Seacourt Hall is only part of the building so I
coordinated with the Baptist Church and the Library, Mace and Savills to
submit our entry.
As a community facility the building has great potential but that has
stalled, along with much of the West Way Centre, due to the COVID
pandemic. The Seacourt Hall launch in January 2020 was the
culmination of years of hard work and negotiations by many people to
secure a new facility at the heart of our growing community. To have to
close it in March 2020 for the Covid lockdown was a major setback
before the hall had time to get established. However it quickly became
the lockdown home to the Botley Community Fridge and the location of
essential food parcel distribution to people isolated and in need. This
use formed part of our submission for the OPT awards, highlighting how
the hall, together with the library and church, served the community in
mind, body and soul!
After stages of partial opening the hall has been fully open for some
months now, and is thriving, with many new and established users and
facilities growing with the community. We also have the library and
church open, offering more facilities. Along with the weekly Farmers
Market, the Missing Bean coffee shop, and Pappo, Dosa Park and more
opening soon, the West Way Centre is filling up. When the OPT judges
came to view the building las t summer they noted the potential for the
whole centre.
So what happened? Well sadly we didn’t win the new building award,
but we did receive a letter of commendation as follows:
“The judges are delighted to recognise the role and commitment of the
management committee which had been required to ensure that these
much-needed facilities for the local community could be achieved. They
were delighted to learn how well the facility was being used and hoped that
in due course the potential for using the roof terrace, working with the
adjoining users, might be achieved.”
Mace also received a letter of commendation in the public realm
category.
It’s great to see Botley
making its mark in this way.
Thank you to everybody who
has helped to make the new
building a success so far, and
all those who are still working
to increase its potential for
the whole community. When
the centre is complete and
the public art, designed with
community input, is in place,
we should definitely submit
an entry again and keep
putting Botley on the map.
Meanwhile the top floor
above the library is still not
occupied. You’ll see the sign
offering it as office space to
rent, so if you have
suggestions for that space,
do contact the number on the banner. Perhaps we can fill the whole
building and even make use of the roof space too! There’s lots of
potential for our community hub Let’s make the most of it.
Lorna Berrett, Chair, Seacourt Hall Management Committee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Calling the curious, the interested, the pilgrim after God
Have you ever wondered what Christianity is all about? Would
you like to find out more in an informal environment with no
strings attached?
Come along to the church of St Peter and St Paul on Thursday
24th February at 7.30pm for the first gathering.
Please contact Revd Clare Sykes to register interest or for more
information on 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com.
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P21/V3182/F
UL
190 Westminster Way. 2-storey side & rear
extensions, single storey rear extension,
loft conversion & 4 parking spaces.
10 Nov Target
Decision Date:
16 Jan
P21/V3169/
HH
3 Toynbee Close. Single storey rear
extension + garage extension.
11 November
TDD: 6 Jan
P21/V3213/
HH
72 Westminster Way. Demolish garage &
single storey, erect single storey rear &
side extension.
15 November
TDD: 10 Jan
P21/V3216/F
UL
176 Westminster Way. Change of use from
6-person to 7-bed HMO with single-storey
rear extension.
15 November
TDD: 20 Jan
P21/V3277/
HH
Stanton House, Stanton Road. Build a
garage.
25 November
TDD: 20 Jan
P21/V3327/
HH
44 Hutchcomb Rd. Demolish rear chimney
stack & replace dormer to rear elevation.
25 November
TDD: 20 Jan
P21/V3370/
HH
74A Westminster Way. Single storey
extension to rear of property.
1 December
TDD: 26 Jan
P21/V3380/L
B
Ferry Cottage 7 North Hinksey Ln. Remove
C20th extension, add new extension.
Grade II listed.
1 December
TDD: 26 Jan
P21/V3430/F
UL
Oxford Lawn Tennis Club North Hinksey
Ln. Install 3 Padel tennis courts with
lighting .
9 December
TDD:3 Feb
P21/V3448/L
DP
95 Turner Drive. Loft conversion with flat
roof dormer to rear & velux window to the
front.
13 December
TDD: 7 Feb
P21/V3523/
HH
28 Laburnum Rd. Single storey rear
extension.
21 December
TDD: 15 Feb
P21/V3536/
HH
6 Hazel Rd. Single storey rear extension &
detached annex.
21 December
TDD: 15 Feb
P22/V0013/F
UL
2 Seacourt Rd.side extension to first floor;
dormer roof extension.
4 January
TDD: 1 March
P22/V0014/
HH
7 Finmore Rd. 2-storey side extension,
ground floor rear extension, loft
conversion, parking.
4 January
TDD: 1 March
P21/V3511/F
UL
Ardmore, Stanton Rd.
Rebuild, part reusing existing footprint &
flanking walls. Change of hardstands &
landscaping.
7 January
TDD: 5 March
Missing Streams
A page of the Oxford Mail from February 1955 has been shown to The
Sprout. In it, the writer deplores the ugly scars of new building, which
disfigure the verdant fields above North Hinksey with a rash of red brick
as new houses go up.
He interviews local worthies, including Eddie Howse of Seacourt Farm,
brother of Raymond Howse, the architect of Elms Parade, remembered
in the clock. Farmer Howse is proud of his prizewinning Shorthorns and
Guernseys. They are pastured in the fields towards Wytham over the
site of the historic village of Seacourt. He has heard of the proposed
extension of the Southern Bypass to Wolvercote. He is philosophical,
but not happy. It would be a crime, he feels, to lose this good grazing to
a road. “My father,” he said, “made a packet when the western by pass
came through Elms Farm, and I look like losing a packet when it comes
through Seacourt… It’ll cut my land clean in half, and I can’t see my milk
cows crossing the road four times a day.”
There was much more to this article, which has been passed to
Malcolm Graham, former County Historian, to make what he will of it.
For now I’ll just note the writer’s passing comment that the hillside was
riddled with small streams. (“There are underground streams all over
the place, and enough water under Cumnor Hill to keep all Oxford
supplied for all time.”)
This has long been the suspicion of local people, but now the houses of
Elms Rise cover the fields, it is hard to know just where the streams
were. The Parish Council, in putting together the Neighbourhood Plan,
commissioned a hydro-geological survey of the area, hoping to pinpoint
places where building work might fall foul of rising springs. But short of
pointing out what we already knew – that streams run down the valleys
of Raleigh Park and Hutchcomb copse – it didn’t help us much.
It didn’t say, for example, where the little stream that runs past North
Hinksey Business Park and disappears under Wallbrook Court, rises,
although the speed with which this can fill right up after a heavy shower
suggests it drains a sizeable chunk of Elms Rise.
Then there’s that little stream that runs under the A34 and comes out
alongside the ‘stream end’ of the parish allotments. You can hear it
gushing beneath you where it crosses North Hinksey Lane just north of
the service road, but where does it come from?
We know about the stream that flows from the 17th Century Conduit
House, under the A34 and past the end of North Hinksey village,
because of Chris Sugden’s valiant efforts to get it flowing again after it
had been blocked for years. It brought clean water to the city centre
from the sparkling springs of North Hinksey for more than three
centuries.
There are rumours of other streams as well.
For instance, Andrew Burk, of Cope Close, reports a family legend
about the stream that rises in his back garden. Here’s how he described
it: “When the Howse family built Elms Rise Estate, before and leading
up to World War II, there was a panic that the bombing may affect the
supply of water for the family farm. So they kept a plot (possibly plots) of
land on the estate that had natural water springs.
As I believe, a piped drainage system was created for the springs to run
down to the farm, in case the water supply was bombed and cut off.
Where these pipes come out, I don’t know, but I have the start of one on
my plot of land. Are there others on the estate?”
Well, Elms Farm was much where the offices are currently being
demolished at the eastern end of the new shopping centre, so if any
pipes turn up, please tell The Sprout!
Another missing stream is the one which Colin Cambrey (or was it
Arthur Howse?) remembered as running along the front of Elms Parade.
Blossom Trinder, who famously
drove a steam roller, would stop
his mighty machine there to suck
out water to fill his boiler. I have
been on the lookout for this stream
ever since the new building
started, but no one has seen any
sign of it. It seems to have
vanished – and yet, there is the
Seacourt Bridge pub, opposite,
which must have been called that
for a reason.
But what was the reason? Can
anyone tell us? The Sprout is
always interested in local history,
so if you can add to the discussion
do please get in touch with
editor@thesprout.org.uk
Ag MacKeith
Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme Update
We are approaching a major milestone for people living at risk of
flooding in Oxford. We will submit our planning application for the
scheme shortly. This will be checked by the local planning authority,
Oxfordshire County Council, before they hold a public consultation on
the matter, which will be available on Oxfordshire County Council’s
planning portal. In the meantime we would like to take this opportunity
to remind you of the
design updates
shared in May 2021.
The Oxford Flood
Alleviation Scheme
will create a new
stream with wetland
wildlife corridor to the
west of Oxford to
allow more flood water
to move through fields
rather than built up
areas, and so reduce
flood risk in the city
and surrounding
areas. More details here: https://consult.environment-
agency.gov.uk/thames/oxfordscheme/
If you have any further questions that aren’t covered on our webpage or
frequently asked questions, please email us at
oxfordscheme@environment-agency.gov.uk.
You can sign up for newsletter updates by emailing us, and follow us on
social media on Facebook, Twitter and In s ta g ra m.
Ross Lewis, Community Support Officer, Environment Agency
Note: the six partners in this scheme have used the delay while work is
done on the railway bridge under the A423 to expand the website. Many
local concerns have been addressed, and the FAQs now include
reassurance on many areas – for instance, that the MG4 grassland in
Hinksey Meadow (see photo) will be no drier than it is already, and that
there is no plan to compulsorily purchase the North Hinksey Lane
allotments. The website claims that the revised planning application will
be submitted ‘this winter’, but there is still no date. Consultation will start
once the application has been submitted. The Sprout is on the case. Ed.
Omicron, begone!
Wouldn’t we all just love to wave a magic wand with the invocation
‘Omicron, begone!’ and have our wish granted! We can all hope that this
will be the case sooner rather than later.
Kennington Memory Club took the precaution, in the light of rapidly
rising Omicron variant Covid cases, of closing down from December
23rd. Numbers of cases at the beginning of January weren’t any more
encouraging so the closure was continued. At the time of writing this,
the target date for re-opening is January 20th, but it will all depend on
the data. We are all hoping we will be back in business again for
February. We do our level best to ensure that the Club is as Covid-safe
as possible with our cleaning and sterilization procedures, visor or mask
wearing for all staff and volunteers,
and testing for them before
attending the club on each
occasion.
Please direct any enquiries about a
possible place at the Club for
yourself or a loved one to Helen,
the Organiser, on 07852 883496.
The same number applies for
anyone interested in volunteering
for the Club. There’s more here:
www.kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk
Isobel Birse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guesswork (1)
Can you guess the name of this
well-known local figure?
“Timeless Oxford College (5, 6)”
Wise Students Exhibition
Botley Arts is pleased to be hosting the Wise Students Exhibition, repre-
senting artwork by students in fiv e different mixed ability Oxfordshire
Adult Learning classes at various local centres. All these classes are
taught by Tatiana Wise, under the aegis of Abingdon & Witney College.
Some of the exhibitors have been in these classes since their introduc-
tion, in 2009. Tatiana, who has been teaching them since then, is a
native Russian who settled in England twenty years ago when she
came here to marry an English doctor she met on her frequent trips to
England with her Russian art students.
Students work in a wide range of media and a varied range of subjects,
in an informal atmosphere of mutual learning and sharing, underpinned
by Tatiana's knowledge and encour-
agement.
The current exhibition consists pre-
dominantly of flower compositions,
images of birds, and landscapes.
This imagery has been chosen to
reflect a belief that art should take
the viewer into an imaginary state
where beauty can be experienced.
Also featured is work done at the
increasingly popular Museum Draw-
ing classes at the Ashmolean. Work
inspired by the Ashmolean's Collec-
tions is a subject in itself.
Tati a na s a ys , “ I t h as b e en a v e ry
interes ting experience for all of us, putting together the exhibition to try
and show our best pieces. We have all had our confidence boosted as
artists by this. It will stimulate us to keep improving our skills as we start
to work on new challenges.”
Abingdon & Witney College welcomes art students at all levels, at
different sites throughout Oxfordshire. Previous drawing and painting
experience is not necessary, and the tutors find that expressing yourself
through art is particularly satisfying in these current troubled times. For
more information, see www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk (part-time courses).
The Wise Students Exhibition can be seen at St Peter & St Paul's
Church, West Way, from February 7th through 4th March. Opening
hours are 10-4pm, Monday to Saturday, and 12 noon-4pm on Sunday.
Oxfordshire Community Land Trust
making good progress in Dean Court
We are continuing to make good progress at our Dean Court site. Staff
and members at Vale of White Horse have been working their socks off
to get things in place before the end of March, against a tight timetable.
OCLT is pleased to say we are almost there with that now and expect
funding agreements to be signed very soon. There are just a few more
details to sort out before a start date can be agreed. We will let you
know more in the next issue of The Sprout.
One of the big hurdles we had to jump to get funding was to acquire
Registered Provider Status, which we finally achieved in October 2021.
RPS allows us to draw down the funding awarded last March for eight
affordable apartments in Dean Court. Sprout readers may remember
the site was acquired in April 2019 and planning consent obtained in
April 2020 to build five 1-bed flats and three 2-bed flats, to be managed
co-operatively by the tenants themselves. The intention is to keep these
dwellings available for affordable rent in perpetuity.
The flats will provide much needed homes for people on the Vale of
White Horse District Council’s Housing Register. Preference will be
given to people with a connection to the local area: Dean Court and
adjacent parishes. You can apply for a flat via White Horse Home-
choice, but you will need to be on the Housing Register first.
OCLT is run by volunteers and depends on the generosity of grant fun-
ders and donors to pursue various exciting projects in the city and
beyond. We create community-owned, genuinely affordable housing. If
you would like to join us in this innovative and sustainable approach to
housing, you can become a member of OCLT for only £1
(https://www.oclt.org.uk/join/). A monthly donation will help us to grow further
(https://www.oclt.org.uk/support-us/). OCLT are also always interested
in off-market purchase of land and housing for the ultimate provision of
permanently affordable homes. If you would like to see your home or
land help provide affordable housing for generations to come, please
contact: info@oclt.org.uk. Fran Ryan
Randoms
Botley WI
We will have a mystery speaker at our next meeting on Tuesday 1st
February, 7:30pm, whose talk promises to be full of interest for ob-
servant attendees. Visitors are always welcome! The hall extension is
nearing completion and we look forward to having an entrance lobby
and facilities soon that will be accessible to everybody.
Our Walking, Reading, “Greenish Fingers,” Music and Craft subgroups
will continue to take hikes round the Oxford area; read and discuss fas-
cinating books; plan gardening activities for spring; and listen to exciting
music from world-class players. Our Craft group is busily preparing for
our Faberdashery Sale on Saturday 26th March, 10-3pm; we shall
have lots of super items of fabric and needlework accessories from the
Women’s Institute former national college at Denman Hall.
For more information ring Alison on 07598 251161, or to book the hall
call Val on 01865 245273. “
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
North Hinksey Parish Council is discussing the best way to celebrate
this once-in-a-lifetime event, the Queen’s last jubilee celebration. So far
it has been agreed to light the beacon at 9.45pm on 2nd June, as part
of the national beacon chain, and to explore joint celebrations with
Cumnor Parish Council. The Jubilee weekend will stretch from 2nd to
6th June, and the suggestion so far is to have a street party in the
shopping precinct, with exhibitions of local history and future visions for
Botley. Then there’s the Crabtree Challenge… And maybe Botley in
Bloom could join in. Once a working group has been set up, ideas will
start to flow. Here’s a link to what’s already in train
https://unboxed2022.uk/ and this is the official website:
https://platinumjubilee.gov.uk/. More info to come.
Draughtproofing
Sustainable Botley is offering to help homeowners apply draughtproof-
ing strip and reduce energy costs. First three applicants free. Here’s the
email address: sustainablebotley+noreply@googlegroups.com
A Botley Bible Book Club?
The Bible is a collection of 66 books, split into Hebrew scriptures and
Christian scriptures – there is Gospel, history, apocalyptic, poetry,
prophecy, letters – many different types of writing. Would anyone out
there be interested in a Botley Bible Book Club where we read these
scriptures together and discuss them, in much the same way as any
other book club works – accompanied by a glass of wine or cup of good
coffee? If you would be interested in this, please be in touch with me:
Revd Clare Sykes, Rector of the Church of England churches in Botley
and North Hinksey. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com
Solar farm
In the light of the planning application for a solar farm in the field next to
the beacon, the Parish Council has organized a trip to Westmill
Community Energy Solar Park, near Watchfield, to inform themselves
as to what is involved. Some members of Sustainable Botley have
seized the chance to join in and learn more about solar farms, as well
some membes of Cumnor PC. There will be a report in next month’s
Sprout.
Carol Singing
The carol singers from Wesley Memorial Methodist Church send thanks
to all the households
on Cedar Rd, Beech
Rd and Laburnum Rd
who supported the
house-to-house carol
singing just before
Christmas. We were
delighted to sing again
after missing it last
year, and it’s always
lovely to hear apprecia-
tive comments and to
take requests. We
raised an excellent
£232.04 for Christian Aid’s Christmas appeal. We particularly enjoyed
the enthusiastic reception on Beech Road so thank you! See you next
year!
Guess work (2)
Here’s another local figure for you to exercise your brains on.
“Magic Kate, puts on hat, loves sprouts.” (2, 8)
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean
Metson, firstbotleybrownies@g m a il.com
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
mail@thefourth.org.uk Website:
http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, 1 Church Way, Botley
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11 , SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Brendan Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Thursdays, 3-5pm at St P&P Church Hall, West Way,
Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com
Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening. Contact
csugden@ocrpl.org
07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner
Ox.721386
Rehearsals Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142
or www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or phone 01865
721026
Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,
call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org
Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see
www.emilyschoirs.co.uk
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 10–12.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volun te er s
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
N Hinksey Youth Club
Weds at LM pavilion, Daz: 07791 212866 or F’book
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259
Oxford Harmony
Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall, Con-
tact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,
twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
raleighpark@raleighp ark.o rg.uk
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see
https://www.seacourthall.org.uk
Shotokan Karate Club
6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Stagecoach Botley
Seacourt Hall, Saturdays 9:00am–3pm Performing
Arts for 4-16 yr-olds Oxf 590510 or 01235 390810
Walking for Health
2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car
park, Arnolds Way. Alan 07941 610913
West Oxford Bowls Club
Contact details on
www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Alison Jenner 07598 251161
alisonjenner@yahoo.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
Baptist Hall
1 Church Way
Contact: Diane Melchert 01865 243664
botleybaptistchurch@gmail.com
The Rosary Room
Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise
Contact Maria Brown,
Te l : 01865 247986.
SS Peter & Paul Church
Hall, West Way, Botley
Contact: 01865 242057 or
osneybenefice@outlook.com.
Women's Institute Hall,
North Hinksey Lane
Contact: Val Warner
Te l . 01865 245273
Seacourt Hall,
3 Church Way
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk
Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,
Elms Rise, Botley
Contact: Darren Blase 241254
louiememorialpav ilio n@gm ail.c o m
Oxford Rugby Club,
North Hinksey Village
Contact:. Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts
St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane
1st, 2nd, 4th Sunday, Sung Eucharist 11.30 a.m .
3 rd Sunday, Matins 11 .30 am
St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way
2nd Saturday each Month, 4–6pm Messy Church for children and their carers
1st Sunday of the Month, 9.30am All Age service of Holy Communion
All other Sundays, 9.30am Holy Communion with activities for children
Every Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion at Field House
Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com
Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Roman Catholic, Yarn el ls Hill
Saturday 6.30 pm. Mass
Sunday 9.15 am Mass
Fr Daniel Lloyd. 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way
Sunday Service 11 am.
Wednesday Zoom Bible Study 7.30 p.m.
Choir practice Thursday 2p.m.
Diane Melchert, 07742 662668. www.botleybaptistchurch.org
Calvary Chapel
Sunday services held at Botley School 10.30–12 noon
Pastor Philip Vickery 01865 864498
calvarychapeloxford@yahoo.co.uk;
www.calvarychapeloxford.org.uk
What’s On
February
Mon 7th daily till 4th March, in Ss P&P Church, Wise Students
expo from Botley Arts
Tue s 8th 6pm by Zoom, Patients group meeting
Thur 10th 12 for 12.30, Seacourt Hall Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Mon 14th 2.30, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: Eugene
Matthias on ‘The Ugly Duckling and the Magic Wand’
Tue s 15th Pappo’s new restaurant opening at last in precinct
Wed 23rd Hill End, two days of half-term activities, booking req’d
Thur 24th 12 for 12.30, Seacourt Hall Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Thur 24th 7.30, Seacourt Hall, Parish Council meeting?
Thur 24th 7.30, SsP&P Church, What is Christianity All About?
Mon 28th 2.30, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: Mervyn
Edwards, on his book ‘Walking the Beat to Nirvana’
March
Sat 12th 2-5 pm, Seacourt Hall, Energy in our Homes
Fri 19th and Fri 25th, two weekends of litter picking with
Oxclean
Sat 26th 10-3pm, Botley W.I. Hall, Faberdashery Sale
Sat 26th Cumnor Choral Spring Concert